So You’re in XIIth Grade? What a nightmare!

They tell us to not get too stressed, to study hard and then all will be well. But really? 12th standard is not a piece of cake and perhaps will never be. I’m not saying the studies are exceptionally hard, but the constant poking noses of my relatives, neighbors and sometimes peers is enough to set me over the edge. The course is tough, but not unmanageable. The problem, in the situation as one might say, is expectations. I’m a science student, and sadly that’s the only perspective I can share with you but it must be more or less the same for all streams.

My mathematics teacher tells me to study maths for four hours everyday. My coaching center gives me to learn two modules generally every class (roughly 110 pages) in a span of 2-3 days. On top of that we have school tests whose course does not coincide with our tuition course, and its like I’m studying for two twelfth standards at the same time. As if one was not enough?

There are many people I find who say you can come and talk to me, if you are having any problems, which is pretty nice about them, but the cliched speech given by them has already been drilled into me by my parents. My question here is, cut-offs are going ridiculously high, hardly few scrape through for entrances, and fewer for prestigious JEE, and other such exams. Our relatives are more worried about our marks, and not touching the 95% mark means your child is dumb. Just that simple!

It doesn’t even end here, parents also get caught up in this fuss, expecting there mediocre child to suddenly turn prodigal. And let’s not even talk about the possibility of a child to even think of dropping a year, because oh dear, that’s such a taboo. What will people say? So no pressure there. Really.

This year is said to be a life maker or life breaker. And then the ‘understanding’ acquaintances of mine tell me to not take stress? I’m sorry but if I’m jobless for the rest of my life, are you going to transfer Rs 50,000 in my account every month? No? Then please understand that telling me to not take tension and then being shocked at my getting mediocre marks is double standards. Just that simple!

Please don’t mistake me for being too cynical, I’m just putting forth the real dilemmas of a 12thee. I could go on and on about the defects of our education system but that’s not really gonna help me, this year at least. All I’m saying is, I don’t have a solution for this stress, tension and this never ending anxiety. I’m helpless, as my body does not allow me to sit and study after consecutively attending 7 hours of school and 5 hours of tuition. And god forgive me for not practicing maths for four hours daily and choosing my precious sleep over it. I, as a 12thee, apologize for not following the “Do’s and Don’t’s” of this crucial year of my life, as that just might be the cause of speeding up my emotional breakdown.

In this article, dear reader, I do not seek sympathy. All I want for everyone is to stop expecting, as I myself am wonderfully efficient in that regard, and for everyone to stop telling me what to do. Every child is different and there is no particular way of doing things. I may not score well in these exams but who knows I might be teaching in Harvard someday?

I can see what exactly is the problem with you and most of the students in “Science” stream. You must have scored good marks in your 10th board examination, then your parent or some relative must have said “You are so good in studies, what is your net step, Engineering or Medical”. Even if they hadn’t said that our surrounding keep projecting these as the best option, even not knowing the aptitude and interest of the child. I feel really sad how people forget that there better opportunities beyond Engineering and Medical. We ignore Indian Statistical Institute over IITs, NITs, and IIITs because we think it is better to stick with the stereotype. But actually life is pretty fun over there. We choose them because that is what we see in front of us

I know everyone thinks Science students have taken that stream under family pressure, but that’s really short of becoming another stereotype. I took science because I wanted science. Not because my dad has dreams of my having ‘Dr.’ in front of my name.:)

Even i am a 12thee… I too think the same. We know that our parents do care a lot about our careers. According to me, its totally obvious for them to care for us. But the constant pressure of expectations may lead to depression. I feel instead of thinking of these expectations we should think what exactly we want to do with our lives. In this crucial year all i can think is of shaping my life in the way i want. To score high and be a doctor. Being a science student i feel we should rack our brains n try to remain engrossed in studies.
Anyways i like your words

. What will people say? So no pressure there. Really. life maker or life breaker. And
In this article, dear reader, I do not seek sympathy. All I want for everyone is to stop expecting, as I myself am wonderfully efficient in that regard, and for everyone to stop telling me what to do. Every child is different and there is no particular way of doing things. I may not score well in these exams but who knows I might be teaching in Harvard someday
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